Every crystal and gemstone has its own particular energy
field, "piezoelectricity" or vibrations. Each stone is
unique. When looking for crystals or gemstones, you should try to find
those that appeal or "speak" to you. Many people are drawn to
certain stones by their intuition. You might be drawn to a specific colour,
or shape, or as with many people, you might experience the vibration of energy
from the stone when holding it in your hand - this can often feel like a
beating, almost like a heartbeat, or sometimes it is felt as a tingling
sensation. The main thing is to trust your instincts, the stone will make
itself known to you.

Of course, if you are new to crystal awareness, it can be
very difficult to let go of the logical, left side of your brain! All this
talk of crystal vibrations and sensations might sound totally bizarre, but, if
you keep an open mind and try it for yourself, you might find that you surprise
yourself.

WHERE CAN I GET CRYSTALS
FROM?

There are many shops nowadays that sell crystals and
gemstones, especially the "New Age" shops. These shops sell
beautiful crystals, however, they can be rather expensive. It's best to
shop around, try looking on the web, there are lots of sites selling all sorts
of gemstones and minerals. Try looking for mineral suppliers, they too
sell some wonderful specimens, they may not be nicely cut and polished, but,
they can provide gems and minerals in their natural state. Keep your eyes
open, you can find stones in the strangest of places - next time you are out in
the countryside, or down at the beach, have a look yourself and see what you can
find. On a recent holiday to Lanzarote, Spain, I found some really nice
crystals within the volcanic rock, as the coast is abundant with Olivina (Peridot).

PREPARING YOUR CRYSTALS AND
GEMSTONES

Before you start to use your stones for healing purposes,
they need to be cleansed of any negative energies they might have obtained from
their previous environment. Also, the stones you choose to work with for
healing should only be used for healing.

METHODS OF CLEANSING

Here are some of the most popular ways in which stones can
be cleansed:

WATER - Most crystals can be cleansed in water, but some
delicate specimens, clusters or minerals are best not put in water. Most
of the tumbled stones can be cleansed in water. Hold your crystal under
clear, running water, ideally a stream. Visualise any negative energy
being washed away by the cleansing water. Focus on purity and golden
light.

BREATH CLEANSING - Another way to cleanse your stones is to
blow air onto them. It is best done whilst meditating - sit quietly and
focus on the gemstone and visualise yourself breathing pure white light on the
stone.

SALT - Delicate specimens can be cleansed in rock or
sea-salt. Some people bury their crystals in the salt, others simply
sprinkle a circle of salt around their stones and leave them for 3 days.

PLANETARY - some people choose to cleanse their gemstones in
Moonlight, and energise them in sunlight, leaving them exposed to moon-rays and
sunshine for a few days.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD THEY BE
CLEANSED?

For stones and crystals that are being used specifically
for healing purposes, they should be cleansed after every single healing
session. Other stones should be cleansed at least once a week.

CHARGING AND PROGRAMMING

After your stones have been cleansed by any of the above
methods, it is necessary to fill the stones with positive energy - this is
called "charging". Imagine your gemstones as being like a
battery, they need energy to work properly and to give off energy
effectively. Programming simply means giving the stone a specific purpose,
i.e., to be used for the purpose of healing.

To charge a crystal or gemstone you can:

Leave them in moonlight and sunlight for a couple of
days/nights.

Meditate - sit quietly and focus your attention on your
crystal. Feel it's structure, the shape, the surfaces, the texture and
temperature of the stone. Visualise white-golden light surrounding
yourself and the stone. Now, think about the purpose of the stone, i.e.,
healing.